Animal Trainer salary in the U.S.
Animal Trainers in the U.S. earn a median of $39,990 a year ($19.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,490 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $47,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for animal trainers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| 25th percentile | $33,740 | $16.22 |
| Median | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| 75th percentile | $53,580 | $25.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Average (mean) | $47,020 | $22.61 |
Half of animal trainers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,332.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,666.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,538.08 |
| Weekly | $769.04 |
| Hourly | $19.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Animal Trainer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $62,960 | 720 |
| Alabama | $55,700 | 170 |
| Oregon | $55,520 | 140 |
| California | $49,060 | 2,270 |
| New York | $48,790 | 970 |
| New Jersey | $46,690 | 480 |
| Washington | $46,420 | 360 |
| Illinois | $45,830 | 680 |
| Connecticut | $45,800 | 290 |
| Indiana | $45,270 | 380 |
| Georgia | $45,250 | 800 |
| Montana | $44,680 | 80 |
| Colorado | $44,290 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $43,580 | 510 |
| Iowa | $43,020 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $41,690 | 300 |
| Idaho | $40,770 | 180 |
| Maine | $40,760 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $40,310 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $39,400 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $38,970 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,920 | 460 |
| Utah | $38,580 | 260 |
| District of Columbia | $38,200 | n/a |
| South Dakota | $38,120 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $38,030 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $37,680 | 640 |
| Maryland | $37,430 | 890 |
| Wisconsin | $37,140 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $37,080 | 100 |
| Florida | $36,870 | 1,090 |
| Nevada | $36,760 | 170 |
| Texas | $36,370 | 1,080 |
| Tennessee | $35,320 | 310 |
| Mississippi | $35,130 | 40 |
| Alaska | $34,900 | 50 |
| Nebraska | $34,900 | 60 |
| New Mexico | $34,760 | 60 |
| Kansas | $34,720 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $34,030 | 470 |
| Missouri | $34,010 | 250 |
| Delaware | $33,810 | 90 |
| Arizona | $33,330 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $32,720 | n/a |
| Ohio | $32,700 | 730 |
| Michigan | $30,820 | 800 |
| South Carolina | $29,670 | 200 |
Best-paying metro areas for animal trainers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,190 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,040 | 110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $64,430 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $61,490 | 300 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $59,710 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $58,160 | 60 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $58,090 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $55,560 | 160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $54,810 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,230 | 830 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $50,460 | 650 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,420 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,260 | 170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,020 | 970 |
| Tulsa, OK | $49,320 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most animal trainers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 970 | $50,020 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 830 | $51,230 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 680 | $46,810 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 650 | $50,460 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 580 | $46,890 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 500 | $42,180 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 460 | $34,620 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 450 | $30,920 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 340 | $35,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $42,860 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 300 | $61,490 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 270 | $41,830 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 240 | $36,390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 230 | $49,150 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 200 | $34,310 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a animal trainer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for animal trainers in the U.S. is $39,990 a year, or $19.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid animal trainers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of animal trainers in the U.S. earn at least $75,490 a year. The top 25% earn $53,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for animal trainers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,600 a year, and a quarter of animal trainers earn $33,740 or less.
How many animal trainers work in the U.S.?
About 18,770 animal trainers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.